Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Patta patti

Patta Patti trouser is a famous attire in villages. The bermuda shorts which is worn by guys/girls as well as old men actually had derived the idea from patta patti trouser. Patta patti trouser is worn only by men. Its famous in Tamilnadu, South India, especially in villages. Bermuda shorts which has alternate white and dark colour (black, blue, green) stripes is patta patti trouser.

When one wears patta patti, it should be significantly visible to the observer i.e. when lungi (a colorful cloth roped across the waist) or dhoti (white cloth of minimum 4 yards length also worn across the waist) is worn, the level at which it is folded should be above knee level so that the striped patta patti is visible. One can take any amount of cash in the pockets of his patta patti. No one will dare to touch it nor there is a possibility of pick-pocketing from the patta patti.

The trouser became famous because of Tamil cine actors like Ramarajan, Napoleon, Rajkiran, Vadivelu and others. Mostly used when they act in village characters. It becomes quite obvious to the movie watchers that a stunt scene is coming up when the dhoti or lungi is folded and lifted above the patta patti. Ramarajan acted in one of his movies wearing only patta patti throughout the movie. The movie is "Enga Ooru Pattukaran" which has a famous song "Shenbagamey Shenbagamey" wherein he milks a cow. He got the famous name "Touser pandi" after wearing patta patti in the movie. Patta Patti saves the milkmans dhoti/lungi from getting dirty.

Minors/Carpenters/Milkmen...the list goes on. Who doesnt wear a patta patti. It gives unbelievable flow of air, warmth and a great feeling when worn. When men go to liquor shops to drink liquor or arrack they take the cash they have saved over the day from the safety locker, the patta patti. The cash is paid and once they are high they roam around wearing the patta patti alone and the lungi folded and worn over the shoulders. This shows the "Thani Gethu" - a tamil term which means "a special effect and respect gained amongst people around". no one will ever dare to come near. The reason is "Patta Patti".


Tamil actors Rajkiran and Napoleon never sign for a movie unless the costume they wear is lungi/dhoti worn over the patta patti throughout the movie. There is no movie of theirs you can find them without the patta patti. There is only one free size of patta patti available and worn by young guys or men. One has to notice that it fits anyone of any hip size.
An added effect comes to the Patta Patti when one gets drunk and dances to the dappan kuthu music. This is a mandatory attire to be worn for dappan kuthu dance.

2 comments:

  1. Looks like it is written for a wiki article.
    Why not go ahead and posting it on Wiki ??

    Enjoyed it !!!

    ReplyDelete
  2. It is inspired from an earlier wiki article on patta patti. somehow I am not able to find that now. I can try posting this on wiki now.

    Thanks !

    ReplyDelete